MAT-211 MATH FOR BUSINESS ANALYSIS
Spring 2011 - updated March 7, 2016
Read and study this syllabus three (yes, 3) times completely the day the course begins. Then take the on-line syllabus quiz.
While reading the syllabus, you will realize it is complete (and very scary). You will find many strong warnings and stern comments.
We put them there to make sure you understand how this course works.
You have many resources to help you understand the math you will study. However, if you cannot operate within this system, you
should reconsider taking this course on-line.
Do not entertain the thought that there is less material to cover, a lower standard, or an easy way through this course. None of
those thoughts are true!
Blue underlined text is a link from this point. Follow them!
Implicit in signing up for this course is the expectation that you have access to an internet-capable computer with regular (daily)
access the worldwide web to handle the material and you understand how to set it up and use it.
There is no excuse for late work or exception to due dates because your computer fails you or you cannot configure your computer
to work. You are expected to have alternative computing sites identified to complete the work on-line when you start the course.
Contact Notes
Instructor Contact
Instructor: Terry Turner
Office: HAV F226
E-mail addresses: Terry.Turner@asu.edu
On-campus Office Hours: Posted at my website
Important Links
Blackboard Account: https://myasucourses.asu.edu/
Homework: WebAssign
Reading and Videos: Course Calendar Spring 2011
Instructor's Web Page: http://fym.la.asu.edu/~tturner
Course Materials
Required textbook: *
Finite Math and Applied Calculus - 5e, Waner and Costenoble
* The cost of buying the on-line homework package includes an excellent e-book. You will be able to print out some pages from
the e-book. That may be all you need. However, if you want hardcopy, please buy the package that includes the textbook
through the ASU Bookstore.
Required computer access:
WebAssign, a homework and evaluation system through Cengage Publishing
Computer Programming required:
1. Adobe Reader or other PDF reader
2. Flash Player or other SWF/FLP player
3. Internet Browser (IE7 or 8, Safari, Firefox, Chrome all work with WebAssign.)
Required Security permissions:
1. Allow asu.edu as a trusted site.
2. Allow pop-ups through asu.edu
Allow downloading of pictures through your browser
Page 1 of 9
3.
.
Orientation and Getting Started
All non-textbook readings and videos will be found in the Course Calendar Spring 2010.
WebAssign is the required On-line homework and evaluation system used in this course.
Work is assigned from the first day of class! Don't delay in getting access and getting started. The students who do not succeed in this
course are usually the ones who do not get started immediately! Be absolutely certain to follow the steps below.
1.
2.
3.
Activate your ASUrite account if you have not already done so. Go to
https://selfsub.asu.edu/apps/WebObjects/ASURITEActivation.
Go to WebAssign no later than the first day of class.
Purchase your access and log in there. Use the Class Key: asu 5908 4746 to find your class.
a) You should not need any other information. This course will be displayed for you.
b) All course materials may not become available until the first day of class.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Complete the “Syllabus Quiz” assignment in WebAssign.
Read the “WebAssign Student Guide” with particular emphasis to the “Answering Questions” and “Submitting Assignments”
sections. This is also found through the WebAssign “Help” in the upper right-hand corner of your class page.
While these assignments are for practice and orientation, you are required to do the assignments. Points earned there do count.
Failing to complete any of these requirements constitutes not attending class in the first week. Read the attendance policy for
this course in the Policies section closely.
About Communication
It is extremely important that you manage your email account!
1. The only ways to contact your instructor is by email or in Virtual Office Hours or in his office.
2. Allow a full day for a response. The instructor is not continuously on-line. Most emails are answered Monday through Friday
afternoon before 6:00pm. Email received from 5:00pm Friday through Monday morning may be answered earlier, but generally
they will be answered on Monday.
3. If you wait until the hours before an assignment due date to send a question, it will almost certainly not be answered before the
due date. As noted, it may take 24 hours or more for your instructor to read and respond to your email.
4. Calling an "office" to leave a message will result in a delayed or no response. Note you were not given a phone number!
5. Any e-mail from you must include your name, course and your section line number (SLN). WebAssign completes this
requirement automatically.
Each student has a “Communication” area in WebAssign.
1. This is your official communications location with your instructor. Check it regularly.
2. Email sent to the class from your instructor goes to “Communication.” They may also
be broadcast through Blackboard in Announcements.
3. You must send your questions from WebAssign using the “Ask Your Teacher” button
at the top of each assignment. Do not send them from other places!
The instructor’s responses are by a reply which will be found in the same “Ask Your
Teacher” area.
DO THE MATH:
4. Specifically, the instructor need not respond to email sent from Blackberries,
iPhone, IPod or any other device that do not use an ASU email address, nor will he
MAT-211 student Zena insists on emailing
the instructor from her Blackberry. The
respond to any request not clearly written in Standard English as expected of a
instructor has to look up the class, then find
university student.
his specific homework assignment, then
a) Questions about the specific homework problems must always be sent from the
relate the email to the problem. This usually
takes about 5 minutes.
set in WebAssign at all times.
b) Your instructor need not respond to any other email except those sent through
At times the instructor has about 600
the WebAssign “Ask Your Teacher” option during this course after the drop/add
students. About 25% of them ask a question
each week. That is 150 students.
date.
i) This is the only way to ask a question about a specific problem.
The product is 150*5 = 750 minutes = 12.5
ii) The instructor can link back to your specific problem from your WebAssign
hours wasted since the instructor has yet to
begin to answer the questions!
email with one click. This saves a lot of time for him, which means he can
answer more questions from you.
Responding to a question through your
iii) Asking for help in any other way will probably result in no response since the
homework system requires exactly one
click to do everything described above.
spam and other filters in the instructor’s system will almost certainly trash
your email.
5.
6.
The instructor will not lose time checking trash, spam and other places his browser might dump your email because
you will not follow these simple instructions.
General questions may be sent from the assignment titled “0 - Information or Meeting Request.” There is no point value in this
assignment. It is purely a management tool.
Check for announcements and instructions daily. Lack of effort on your part to monitor course email and announcements daily
in no way creates an obligation upon the instructor to give you any benefits not already granted in this syllabus. It is the
equivalent of not paying attention in class.
About the Curriculum
Expect to put an average of 12 hours each week into this course. When you need less, great! When you need more, you will
understand better how averages are created.
Course Description
Course Calendar Spring 2011☜ Click there to get the course calendar. It has the topics we cover. Read it! You are
responsible for all videos and all readings listed in the course calendar. You should bookmark the course calendar link or
print the calendar out separately.
Course Content
1) Specific scheduling for text readings and on-line lessons and videos for
each topic are posted through the course calendar.
2) The course content is consistent with what we expect of students in
traditional lecture sections. They use the same materials
3) On-line lessons and videos are found in the course calendar as links.
4) Neither the on-line lessons, textbook, nor the videos contain all of the
course material. You must use all of them. Researching topics on-line can
also be very useful. Using the index and table of contents in the textbook
is another useful strategy.
5) This course is designed to let you work to your strength. You are
encouraged to work ahead. However, you do have definite due dates.
They are conservatively set to make sure you have ample time to
complete your work.
6) Where possible, work ahead in sections you find to be easier. This should
give you more time to complete the more difficult sections on time.
7) This is not a self-paced or open-ended course! It is your responsibility to stay on track and complete this course on schedule.
About Evaluations
Tests, Homework and Self-directed Work
This course is all about “home” work! Your work consists of reading on-line sections and the textbook related to the topic, viewing or
reading and studying the examples and commentary provided in the related lessons, trying practice problems from the book, and
then doing the on-line assignments listed in WebAssign.
1) WebAssign homework is divided into problem sets. These are typically labeled by
section and topic.
2) All homework is visible in WebAssign from the beginning of the course.
3) Tests are become visible near their opening dates.
4) Homework Sets are 60% of your total grade.
5) The “Grades” area in WebAssign shows you a very complete report of your
progress. Go there and click on the “My Scores Summary” link.
6) Your “VIEW GRADES” link in Blackboard will show your progress only at the time of
Academic Advisories and end of course. This is not an automatic update process,
so it may not be updated except as mentioned above.
Due Dates
The due dates for homework posted on-line in WebAssign allow for at least one day
extra in each case.
1) This is the only grace period for your assignments! Mark your calendar
accordingly.
a) All due times will be at 11:59 PM Arizona time on the day before that shown in the WebAssign.
b) Arizona does NOT use daylight savings time.
c) If you are not in Arizona, it is your responsibility find out what time that equates to in your local area.
d) Example: If an assignment is posted as closing at 11:59 PM on Tuesday, consider it to be due formally at 11:59 PM on the
day prior (Monday in this example).
2) Stay on the course calendar pace and you will not have a problem!
3) If you must submit work earlier because of your personal schedule, do so.
4) No "grace period" will be provided aside from that already stated above; do not ask for extensions unless you have been subject
to a sudden, incapacitating, documented illness or injury or some equally disastrous life event for the entire week prior to the
due date.
5) It is up to you to complete the work before it is due not to start it before the due date.
6) It is not appropriate to ask for an extension because you scheduled an appointment with a tutor that is after a due date! All due
dates are provided on the first day of class. Schedule yourself accordingly.
Homework Submissions
1) Homework assignments are submitted problem-by-problem to the evaluation programs.
a) Individual problem values are provided in each problem/set.
b) The system automatically records all responses and evaluates them as correct or incorrect.
c) Do not inform your instructor when you complete a problem or assignment. It clogs the system unnecessarily.
2) Every problem lists how many times you may submit all answers.
a) Check each problem before you begin to see how many attempts are allowed. If you don’t get a problem after a couple of
tries, ask for help!
b) Regardless of attempts allowed, after the third try you will lose 10% of the problem value for each subsequent try. This is
to discourage guessing and to encourage you to get help before your learn a bad habit!
c) Conversely, you will get a 1% bonus for completing homework more than 36 hours before the due. This is to encourage
you to get ahead of the schedule and stay that way.
3) Also be warned that the homework program has a “calculation engine” and a “randomization routine” built into it.
a) Because of the programing, you are unlikely to ever guess an answer!
b) In most cases your numerical result will be different from other students in your course. They are working with different
numbers.
c) Compare methods, not answers!
4) The way to respond to a problem varies from problem to problem. Briefly, you will
a) Type in a numeric result or a word or phrase as directed by the problem.
b) Type in the complete mathematical statement or calculation just about in the same way as in a calculator.
c) Respond to multiple-choice, True/False, Yes/No, or other list-type problems by making the correct choice.
The Evaluation System
The course is divided into two halves. Each is worth about 50% of the course.
1) While we do not wish to discourage anyone, please pay attention to this advice: If your point total
at the midterm is less than 25% of course points, you should withdraw! You would require a nearly
perfect second half result to pass the course. Further, the general procedure for an “Incomplete”
grade does not apply!
2) No remedial points will be offered in this course. They are inappropriate in a course where
numerous opportunities to improve your work are allowed.
3) Don’t ask for remedial work because you have fallen behind and lost points when assignments
closed. You have already been warned repeatedly to keep up with the calendar.
Grade Range (%)
A+ **
97 - 100
A 90 – 96.999…
B
80 – 89***
C
70 - 79
D
60 - 69
E
0 - 60
Evaluation Method Value
Homework Sets*
60%
On-line Test 1
20%
On-line Test 2
20%
Total
100%
* Homework includes progress checks and any other categories of work aside from tests.
** This A+ grade must be earned without bonus points should any be offered. It is a grade of distinction for
those understanding the course material almost flawlessly. It requires an “A” grade in Homework and both
tests. Refer to the last page of this syllabus for an interpretation of letter grades.
*** Note the dead zone at each grade break. That point is at the instructor’s discretion based on the pattern
and quality of your work. Do not assume automatic rounding to the higher grade. If you have a zero in any
assignment, you lost those points on your own. They will not be given to you.
Testing
You are required to complete two on-line tests in this session. There is no other testing in this course except as provided for
suspected Academic Dishonesty.
1) Each test is very similar in composition and method of completion as your homework.
2) However, you are guaranteed exactly one opportunity to complete each problem during the on-line test. When a second try is
offered, it is solely to allow you to correct your own typos. Should you ask for an additional try, the first result already entered
into WebAssign must be correct except for a typo or you will not be given another opportunity.
3) Each test is 20% of course grade. Neither is optional.
4) The tests should each take about two hours. However, you have a full day after you open them to complete them unless you
open them on the due day.
5) You must find a time within your schedule to complete each test before it closes.
a) The tests must be taken during the dates specified in the course calendar.
b) Always check the due dates in WebAssign! They are definitive for all course work and will never be changed to close an
assignment earlier than stated in the course calendar.
6) You are required to achieve at least a 70% average on the two tests to pass this course with a grade better than “C”
regardless of total points earned. You will be given exactly one opportunities to improve your test-score average to 70% if it
is initially below 70%.
Required Precision
As a course rule, all numeric answers must have at least six significant digits or be entered as an exact calculation or result.
1) The word "exact" means there is no rounding, truncation, or manipulation of the numerical value at all.
Example: If an answer is the square root of 2 and the instructions say an exact result is needed, you must correctly enter the
symbolic result for 2 or equivalently 2^(½).
2) The only time this does not apply is when a problem has specific instructions about rounding or formatting an answer.
3) Do not put commas in answers in WebAssign except when told to do so!
Examples:
a) If the answer is one third, you may enter ⅓ or 0.333333 but not 0.33333.
b) If the answer is two thirds, you may enter ⅔ or 0.666667 but not 0.66667 or 0.666666.
c) If the answer is 1,234,567 the system will accept 1234570 (rounded properly) but not 1234560 (rounded improperly) except
as noted below.
d) If the answer is an ordered pair, the parentheses and comma are mandatory. The response (1,2) is correct while 1 2 or (1 2)
or 1,2 are not. The system will deduct for syntax errors just as the instructor does on written work in traditional classes.
4) If the problem has specific rounding needs based on a practical process, the answer must be adjusted to meet them.
Example:
Suppose you have 85 four-year-old children to move to Disneyland. You will use 42-passenger buses (the big yellow things).
How many buses drivers are required? The answer is three drivers.
The problem does not say you can leave any children behind, and you certainly would not let them drive! For the one extra
child, you must send an entire bus (and driver).
Graphing Calculator
A graphing calculator is required for this course. If you already have a graphing calculator, you may use it. Examples of highly
recommended models are the TI 83/84 or TI n-spire or Casio 9850GB Plus.
About Academic Advisories
Periodically ASU sends Academic Advisories. These are progress reports where less than satisfactory progress is reported through
MY ASU.
1) These reports will be based on the Course Calendar due dates.
2) If the calendar says Assignment X should be completed by a certain date and the Academic Advisory is after that date,
Assignment X is included in the Advisory even if it remains open longer.
The instructor can only evaluate what you have entered into the system, not what is in your head or your notebook! If you do not
want to see a low or poor performance advisory, keep up with the course calendar pace!
Students Resources
YOU ARE NOT ALONE! You have more resources than you can imagine for getting help in this course. Most of it allows you to get
help when you need it according to your schedule. Get help early. Waiting until "later" will be too late.
1) The ASU Academic Success Program (UASP) (free of charge) provides counseling, tutoring in math (and many other subjects),
supplemental instruction, and other types of support to students. Check with them for scheduled sessions and locations. This
includes the Math Tutor Center in PSA-116.
2) Click here for more details: Math Tutoring. Tutor search is the best way for a student to see all the options (tutors/times) at
different centers for their course. Because of budgetary constraints, tutoring on-line may not be available for this course. If it is,
it will be announced.
3) Instructor Virtual Office Hours (VOH) will be by appointment only at hours he might reasonably be expected to be awake! Send
an email through WebAssign to request a meeting using the Office Hours assignment. Offer two times that work in your
schedule.
4) As funding allows, we may have an on-line Tutor. If so, hours are posted in WebAssign.
5) “Ask Your Teacher” is still your best bet. Use it!
About Getting Help
1) Special needs students must file the applicable paperwork with ASU Disability Resources and the instructor to receive any
additional special accommodations for this course.
2) Students are expected (encouraged) to get help on the homework. However, each student must complete and submit each
assignment as their work.
3) Should the instructor decide that there is excessive collusion on the tests (any collusion is excessive on the tests), this syllabus will
be amended to require an in-person, proctored test at an approved educational testing center such as the ASU (Tempe) Math
Testing Center. Any cost created by this change will be the responsibility of the student or students involved.
4) Read the paragraph in the “Policies” section about Academic Dishonesty closely.
A Very Specific Note
You decided to take this course on-line; you have already agreed to follow the syllabus.
1) There is absolutely no time for you to “get up to speed” or “take a break!”
2) There is no intention to drop material or extend due dates during this course. The client schools of ASU want this material
included as part of your mathematics preparation for their course work.
3) If you have any personal plans that will take you away from this course for an extended amount of time, cancel them now, drop
the course now, or lay out your calendar to complete your work early.
4) If you have any health or family considerations you cannot work around where the on-line nature of the course doesn’t
accommodate you already, drop the course now. The instructor is compassionate and does try to help you around short-term,
unexpected issues, but that can go only so far. The course must be started with the intent to complete it in the time frame of
this session.
5) If you are not proficient in mathematics as generally taught through the ASU MAT-210 course and the algebra that was
prerequisite for MAT-210, drop the course now and find a remedial course at ASU or a community college.
6) The instructor has no desire to award anything but passing grades in this course, but you will receive whatever grade your point
total merits. Nothing less…nothing more. Study hard! Study often! Stay focused!
Instructor, Departmental and University
Policies and Procedures
Withdrawal: A student may withdraw from a course with a grade of W prior to the end of withdrawal period. The instructor's
signature is not required.
1. Stating to your instructor that you have decided to withdraw does not constitute a withdrawal.
2. This must be done formally through the registrar.
3. As a courtesy, please notify the instructor so you won’t be irritated by his emails.
Incomplete: An incomplete will be awarded only in the event that a documented emergency or illness prevents the student from
completing the course on schedule who is doing acceptable work after completing all but a small percentage of the course
requirements. The guidelines in the current general ASU catalog regarding a grade of Incomplete will be strictly followed.
Departmental requirements have been that the student is missing a single test and has a passing grade prior to the missing test.
Instructor-Initiated Drop: At the instructor's discretion, any student who has not attended class during the first week of classes may
be administratively dropped from the course. If this happens, there is no recourse. Once this is done, you are out! Course start
dates and times are clearly posted in the ASU catalog.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY and the XE Grade!
In the “Student Academic Integrity Policy” manual, ASU defines “Plagiarism” [as] “using another's words, ideas, materials or
work without properly acknowledging and documenting the source.”
Students are responsible for knowing the rules governing the use of another's work or materials and for acknowledging and
documenting the source appropriately.”
You can find this definition at: http://www.asu.edu/studentaffairs/studentlife/judicial/academic_integrity.htm#definitions
Academic dishonesty, including inappropriate collaboration, will not be tolerated. There are severe sanctions for cheating,
plagiarizing and any other form of dishonesty.
EN Grade: This grade is used to reflect failure due to lack of attendance or participation. Any of the following is sufficient reason for
it to be applied:
Failing to take any test, or
Failing to start or score points in 3 or more assignments before their closing date because you did not make an attempt.
If any three assignments including the Syllabus Quiz and required email close without recorded effort from you, an “EN”
grade may be posted with the registrar. If this is before the end of the withdrawal period, you should withdraw to avoid this
grade.
It is not the instructors’ responsibility to advise you further of this policy.
Attendance in Traditional Classes: Some sort of roll may be taken on a regular basis as studies have shown that students that attend
class regularly are more likely to complete their courses successfully. The School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences has
established an attendance policy as follow:


For classes that meet three days a week (MWF, for example), the maximum number of allowed absences is six (6).
For classes that meet two days a week (TTh for example), the maximum number is four (4).
Students who exceed the maximum number of absences may also receive a grade of EN. This policy is specifically modified as
stated in my In-class Policies Addendum.
What a Letter Grade Means
(At least in this course)
Letter
Percent
Interpretation: The student ...
97-100
Demonstrates an almost flawless understanding of all concepts and processes studied.
Creatively and successfully extends concepts studied to new situations.
Is mechanically superior in math studied.
Understands and uses the vocabulary.
Knows they are right and can prove it correctly!
Completes all work on schedule.
Has an A grade in all phases of the course.
A
90-96
Demonstrates a high degree of understanding of all concepts and processes studied.
Usually extends concepts studied to new situations successfully.
Is mechanically superior in math studied.
Understands and uses the vocabulary.
Knows when they are wrong, but may not be sure why.
Completes all work on schedule.
B
80-89
Demonstrates substantial degree of understanding of most concepts studied.
Applies most concepts to situations previously studied.
Occasionally extends them successfully to new situations.
Is mechanically proficient in math studied.
Can choose a correct definition for a vocabulary term from a list.
Knows they are right, but cannot explain why.
Completes most work on schedule.
C
70-79
Demonstrates some understanding of concepts studied.
Applies the concepts to some situations previously studied.
Seldom extends concepts to new situations successfully.
Is barely proficient in mechanical processes in math studied.
Can sometimes choose a correct definition for a vocabulary term from a list.
Completes most work on schedule.
D
60-69
Demonstrates little-to-no understanding of concepts studied.
Is unable to apply more than the basic concepts to situations previously studied.
Is unlikely to extend them to new situations.
Is not proficient in mechanical processes in math studied.
Believes it is unfair to question them on vocabulary.
Doesn’t know where to begin or begins with a completely invalid process.
Believes the problem is a trick question when they cannot work it.
Ask for extensions repeatedly.
E
EN*
0-59
Is lacking in critical prerequisite skills.
Demonstrates no understanding of concepts studied.
Is unable to apply or extend concepts to situations previously studied.
Is not proficient in mechanical processes in math studied.
Believes it is unfair to question them on vocabulary.
*Or ... has failed to engage the course in any meaningful way.
A+
The descriptions above are typical of those used in university-level education. I do not think it is reasonable to expect you to strive
for a grade without knowing what you must do to achieve it! At some moment in my life I have fit neatly into each one of the boxes
above. The reflection of a good student desiring true learning is to get out of the box by climbing up! Please note there is no reward
for “attendance” or “effort”, only for accomplishment!